More than 1,500 primary and intermediate school children had the chance in 2008 to embark on creative projects that encourage communication and innovation thanks to Unisys Kidz Connect:

"Many thanks to Unisys for allowing us to explore our ideas through animated film." - Yanje Klaracich, Te Kura o Otangarei

"Through the generosity of Unisys we have in our school a valuable scientific tool which will continue to provide great learning experiences for many years." - David Atkinson, Kakanui Intermediate, Oamaru

"It is great to know there is support for student education in the business sector. I will be encouraging any teachers with an innovative idea to apply for the grant next year." - Shannon Crook, Otumoetai Intermediate

Projects in 2009 include:

Rotokawa Primary School, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty: Toy and language exchange with Irish class
Teacher: Nicola King - Year level: 1 and 2
The class has connected over the internet with a class in Ireland. They sent their Irish friends Paraki the Pukeko. Using digital equipment purchased through the Unisys Kidz Connect grant, the class will send Te Reo lessons to the Irish class in exchange for Gaelic lessons from the Irish children, to share the experience of learning and maintaining native languages, all the while keeping an eye on what Paraki the Pukeko does on his “OE” (overseas experience). The children will also use the equipment to maintain their class blog so that their families can view and comment on their learning. This project links to the curriculum key competencies of relating to others and learning areas of official languages, learning languages and technology.

Raglan Area School, Waikato: Pest eradication to protect Raglan’s environment
Teacher: Glenn Rangitonga - Year level: 7 and 8
The students will research, construct and implement a plan to effectively measure and reduce the number of rodents and mustelids on the peninsula the Raglan Area School is sited on. The project includes co-operation with other organisations including Environment Waikato, Waikato District Council and Department of Conservation to help install monitoring systems, tracking tunnels and traps. The project supports the curriculum values of community and participation and ecological sustainability, and the learning areas of science and technology.

Pahoia School, Bay of Plenty: Original rock music video
Teacher: Billy Edwards - Year level: 5 and 6
This extension project brings together talented musical students in a primary school rock band called Pahoia United, which plays original material. The Unisys Kidz Connect grant funds the video of an original song which has been recorded and will be later released on CD. The high standards of musicianship and production values mean the band is aiming for national and even international exposure. The project supports the curriculum values of excellence and innovation and key competencies of relating to others and participating and contributing in the learning area of the arts.

Otumoetai Intermediate School and Bethlehem School, Bay of Plenty: Lego learning
Teacher: Kimberlie Cording and Regan Scarfe - Year level: 4 and 8
Two classes – from different schools and with a four year age gap between them – will work together in mixed age groups using Lego NXT robotics kits to design and build their own robots. The students will share their progress on the internet and summarise their learning journey with a video documentary. The project supports the curriculum values of innovation, inquiry and curiosity and the key competency of thinking, managing self and relating to others in the learning area of technology.

Ngatea Primary School, Hauraki Plains: Video archive of students’ building project
Teacher: Suzanne Harris - Year level: 2 and 3
The class will create and publish regular video news updates for a special school project: developing a new lunch area in an historic area of the school. Conscious that today’s students are creating a legacy for future students, the class will create an archival record of the process from initial brainstorming through to planning, construction and then the official opening. The regular updates will be published in blog form to keep everyone in the community informed as the students build a bridge from the past to the future. The footage will be screened as a documentary at the school’s 50th Jubilee in 2010. The project supports the curriculum values of community participation and respect, and the key competencies of thinking and using language, symbols and texts in the learning areas of technology and the arts.

Nelson Central School, Nelson: Animation stations for human rights
Teacher: Trina Bennett - Year level: 5 and 6
This bilingual class will create individual animations using webcams and a green screen. The animations will use both Te Reo and English and focus on human rights and conflict resolution. They will use the animations to run workshops with others including whanau to share what they have learnt. The project supports the curriculum values of diversity, equity, respect and community and participation, and key competencies of managing self and relating to others in the learning areas of official languages, social studies and technology.

Meadowbank School, Auckland: Wood-fired pizza oven for Garden to Table project
Teacher: Waveney Bryant - Year level: 5
Having designed and created their own edible garden at school, the class is now working on connecting the garden with the kitchen. Building an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven means they will be able to celebrate their bounty by making and serving their own meals, using vegetables they’ve grown themselves. The project supports the curriculum values of ecological sustainability, innovation, inquiry and curiosity, the key competencies of thinking, participating and contributing and the learning areas of health, technology and science.

Farm Cove Intermediate School, Auckland: DVD for young New Zealanders on “Growth and development”
Teacher: Stephanie Young - Year level: 7 and 8
This DVD will help young people relate and develop a greater knowledge of pubertal change and growth. The class will research, plan, and produce the video, including interviews and animations. Farm Cove is a multicultural school and the students believe the combination of journalism, technology and drama produced by intermediate age students will be something their peers across New Zealand can connect with. The project supports the curriculum values of diversity, integrity and respect, the key competencies of using language, symbols and texts, relating to others and participating and contributing in the learning areas of English, the arts, health, social sciences and technology.

Crofton Downs Primary School, Wellington: The hidden voices project
Teacher: Louise Gusterson - Year level: 3 and 4
This class will work with its new entrants buddy class to create digital stories and presentations. Children will use digital recording microphones to record their thoughts, alongside those of their families and the wider community through the multimedia service VoiceThread. Through this students have the opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas with each other to create a thinking community that extends well beyond the school walls. The project supports the curriculum values of community and participation, key competency of using language, symbols and text, participating and contributing and the learning areas of English and technology.

Browns Bay Primary School, Auckland: Bi-weekly current affairs show online
Teacher: Cherie Bibbie - Year level: 5 and 6
The group will create a bi-weekly current affairs show, identifying and gathering news and then interviewing students, parents and members of the community. This will then be edited and the footage uploaded onto the school network for pupils, staff and others to view. Once episodes consistently meet a high standard they will uploaded to the school website for the wider school community to view. The project supports the curriculum value of community and participation in the learning areas of English and technology.